The Decades of Style ESP 101 pattern has been on my radar for a long time; it is a part of their ‘Decades Everyday’ pattern collection designed with the premise ‘sew in a day, wear everyday’; the pattern is easy, accessible, and quick to make. I bought the No. 101 E.S.P. Dress pattern a long time ago but got distracted by Charm Patterns and the monthly Patreon projects; however, recently they have not appealed to me even slightly so I have been catching up on other patterns that I had all but forgotten about.
Pattern Name: Decades Everyday E.S.P. Dress No. 101
Size Range: Bust sizes 30″ to 46″
I made 42″ bust for this pattern and the only real issue I had was with the front and back necklines which needed a little room taken out. Maybe the next time I think about making up this pattern I will size down and opt for an FBA instead. I used a tartan brushed cotton which I purchased from The Rag Shop, which may also account for the excess fabric in the neckline which really wasn’t all that obvious when I made a quick toile from a heavier fabric.
The construction of the dress was straightforward; it’s easy to cut out and really quick to sew. The dress is marketed as a dress you can sew in a day – I’d say you could make 2 or 3 if you fancied a bit of batch sewing! This is a perfect pattern for beginners. As a bonus, the sleeves are a little fluted so there was no need for me to fuss about with bicep adjustments as I would usually need to do with a straight sleeve. The dress is also designed with a gathered skirt, but I’d been keen to try a box pleat or circle skirt with it in the future – the gathered skirt makes it easy for using prints, though, especially if they are directional.
This is a pattern I am sure I’ll revisit in the future (after checking the neckline fit more closely).
I actually decided to re-toile this one – I downsized the bodice and then did the aforementioned FBA, shortened the bodice a little and decided to use this pattern to make my Christmas Eve dress from this delectable vintage print from Spoonflower – it was quite the improvement.
